Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has opened up about her "favourite job in the world" — and it is not related to the BBC show. The former professional dancer, who currently co-hosts the spin-off programme Strictly: It Takes Two alongside Fleur East, admitted that being a mother to her two-year-old daughter Lyra Rose is her most cherished role.
Janette Manrara on Motherhood
Appearing on ITV's Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday, April 26, alongside her husband Aljaz Skorjanec, the 42-year-old from Miami spoke candidly about her journey to parenthood. When host Alan Titchmarsh asked about their only child, Janette said: "I love it. I think it's become my favourite job in the world and I'm so grateful that we were fortunate enough to have her. It was a tricky road to get to her and when she came to us it was just the biggest dream come true to become parents."
She added: "And if you get to meet her one day you'll know she's our child — she's chatty, she loves putting on a show, she loves to dance and sing and is curious about everything. She's just the best." Janette has previously been open about her fertility struggles, making her words particularly poignant.
Strictly Come Dancing Shake-Up
Janette's revelation comes amid reports of a major shake-up on the BBC's flagship dance show. Following the departure of main series hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, speculation has been rife that the weeknight spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two could also face changes. Rumours suggest that Janette and Fleur East might be leaving the programme, with The Sun claiming that the spin-off will be transformed into a vodcast for the next season.
Janette joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer in 2013, partnering celebrities including Peter Andre, Jake Wood, and Julien Macdonald. In 2021, she took over from Zoe Ball as the main presenter of It Takes Two.
New Presenters for the Main Show
Meanwhile, the BBC has reportedly finalised its decision on the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing. According to fresh reports, the decision was due to be made on Friday, April 24, following a week of "secret auditions." A source told The Sun: "Yesterday was the final day of screen tests, so bosses have tried out lots of different combinations of hosts together and today they are sitting down to make the decision. They want it done and dusted this week."
The insider added: "They really didn't want to get this wrong, which is why it's been such a long, drawn-out process. Everyone who has auditioned and been invited for screen tests is on tenterhooks, they just want to know now." Names reportedly in contention include Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Alex Jones, Fleur East, Emma Willis, Bradley Walsh, and Angela Scanlon.
Strictly Come Dancing is available on BBC iPlayer.
